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The Michigan Osteopathic Political Action Committee (MOPAC) fights to elect and re-elect pro-physician candidates through direct contributions, voter education and targeted political activism. As a physician, your time and resources are limited. MOPAC is the best resource for you to learn who supports the osteopathic profession and how you can help elect candidates that represents you and your patients.

What is MOPAC?

The Michigan Osteopathic Political Action Committee (MOPAC), the political arm of the Michigan Osteopathic Association (MOA) and the sole political action committee representing osteopathic physicians on the state level, was established in 1981 to be the voice of the osteopathic profession in campaigns and elections. Governed by a committee made up of osteopathic physicians, MOPAC is constantly working to increase our effectiveness in elections and strengthen the clout of the physician community. MOPAC’s primary goal is to elect and re-elect pro-physician candidates. We accomplish this through MOPAC-supported candidates, providing voter information on elections, issues, and candidates, and the political activism of our members.

How are we funded?

MOPAC’s political activities are funded by the voluntary contributions of MOA members above and beyond their membership dues. These contributions make it possible for MOPAC and the osteopathic profession to have significant impact in elections.

Contributions at every level are vital to MOPAC’s success. Even the smallest contribution adds to the growing army of osteopathic physicians standing up for our profession. Members of MOPAC are instrumental to ensuring we have both the funds and the people to be effective in the political arena.

MOPAC Club Levels

Our most politically active members are part of one of MOPAC's four giving levels – President's Circle, Governor's Club, Senator's Club and Representative's Club. By joining one of MOPAC’s annual giving levels, members support our political efforts and become part of the elite network of politically active osteopathic physicians and students around the country. They receive invitations to members-only receptions, have access to insider political information, and are recognized in numerous mediums.

MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

As a physician, your time and resources are limited. However, your political activism is essential to help elect candidates that represents you, Michigan’s osteopathic physicians.

Every physician can make a difference in how candidates and elected officials view key-physician issues, who represents them at the state capitol, and the understanding of these issues by voters within their communities. No matter how small the effort, the key is that the effort is made to protect your profession.

The most important way to be politically active is to vote. The message of physicians is heard best when it is their collective voice at the ballot box! Make sure you are registered to vote in time to make your voice heard in this year’s elections!

Fundraisers for candidates and for MOPAC are great opportunities to be politically active, meet candidates and elected officials, and network with other politically active physicians. Events of this kind also are effective settings to discuss key physician issues with current and potential legislators.

Most candidates do not know what a physician’s day entails or how specific legislation and regulation affect their practice. By hosting a candidate at your facility or practice, you establish a relationship with that candidate and afford them a first-hand look at how the issues they vote on directly impact your ability to care for your patients.

It is amazing to think how many people in this country are not registered to vote or have not updated their voter registration information. Be proactive in ensuring your employees, colleagues and friends are properly registered. This can be done as a day in the office, or as an e-mail campaign.

Important issues affecting physicians around the country are often complicated and mis-interpreted. Op-eds serve as an avenue for physicians to communicate a pro-physician message, clarify complicated details of specific issues and counter misinterpretations and misrepresentations often seen in an election year.

Physicians are leaders in their communities, and the media looks to physicians for insight on important physician issues at the forefront of elections. By serving as a media spokesperson, you can be an effective voice for physicians with reporters, at press conferences and various media events.

MOPAC is the sole political action committee representing the osteopathic profession at the state level. Members of the MOA may contribute to MOPAC to support our efforts. We can only succeed in our goal of electing and re-electing pro-physician candidates to Congress with the involvement and support of osteopathic physicians around our state. Take a stand with your fellow D.O.s today and SUPPORT MOPAC!

Before making a decision on which candidate to support, research their positions on issues, ask them where they stand, and learn about their opponents. Once you know you are supporting the pro-physician candidate, offer to help the campaign in some capacity.

Volunteering directly with a pro-physician candidate’s campaign is a great way to start the relationship between constituent and legislator early. Candidates appreciate leaders in the community, like physicians, offering their time to help a campaign. In addition to volunteers with standard duties like making calls and distributing literature, candidates often find issue experts, finance committee members and other assets in their volunteer base.

Physicians are not the only ones affected by key physician issues. Your employees, patients and family are also impacted by legislation and regulation of important helth care issues. Make sure they understand how these issues affect your practice and why they should be important to them.

Your vote and the votes of your employees, colleagues, friends and family are critical to electing candidates who represent you. Encourage people to vote early or by absentee ballot. Give people time to vote on Election Day. Most importantly, lead by example and making voting a priority.